Question: Is it illegal to deface money?
Answer: United States currency and coinage are governed by federal law through the U.S. Treasury Department. Generally, it is illegal to fraudulently deface, mutilate, impair, diminish, falsify, scales or lightens any coins minted or "coined" in the United States or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in use or circulation as money within the U.S. (18 U.S.C. 331)
It is also a crime to fraudulently possess, pass, publish, sell or attempt to possess, pass, publish, sell or bring into the U.S. any such coin with knowledge that the coin has been altered, mutilated, defaced, etc. (18 U.S.C. 331)
Defacing currency with the intent to alter the bill to gain a benefit is illegal. If someone alters a written instrument (such as a check) without permission and with the intent to gain a benefit, then it is called forgery, which is a crime. If one tried to alter a cash bill (like changing a $5 bill to a $20 bill) for the purpose of presenting the altered bill to gain a benefit, then that could be considered a forgery. Forgery of United States Currency in this manner is called counterfeiting and carries with it very stiff penalties.
See also Speak Up! Other #370 - What are the consequences for being found guilty of counterfeiting?
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On 03/01/09
donny from GA said:
why then is it legal to deface money puttng anothers face on the money ??? shouldnt they be punished
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On 02/26/09
CRIS from WI said:
I SUGGEST THAT EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE A $10 BILL AND WRITE 'STIMULI' ACROSS THE FACE IN BOLD RED MARKER AND GO OUT AND PURCHASE SOMETHING AMERICAN MADE...1 BILL WILL MAKE A STATEMENT...THOUSANDS WILL START A MOVEMENT...MILLIONS WILL BRING NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE INEPTNESS OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL SPENDING, BAIL-OUTS AND OMNIBUSSES GOING OVER A BRIDGE TO NOWHERE...WITH A $10 BILL X MILLIONS..WE CAN CORRECT THE SINKING ECONOMY TO WHERE IT CAN STABILIZE AND RE-COOP...WE CAN SAVE THOSE WHO DESERVE SAVING AND ALLOW OTHERS TO RE-ORGANIZE...WITHOUT GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION ...THAT'S HOW I SEE IT..
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On 02/17/09
Chas from CA said:
If I have a constitutional right to burn the American flag then surely I can burn my own money.
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On 02/04/09
AreBe from WI said:
I believe the words are... "Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes,
falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of the United States, etc." It looks to me like violations are separated by comas, so fraudulently alter (to change printed value perhaps), to deface (draw with crayon on bills), mutilate (tear it up), etc. are each a violation. That's the way sentences are usually structured, not to be taken out of context.
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On 01/29/09
TIM from NV said:
The law clearly states that it is a crime to alter or deface money with the INTENT of causing that bill to be removed from circulation. Look up the law yourself. If you write a note on a bill with the intent for it to circulate, you have clearly NOT broken the law. It could also be argued that present day money is not government owned, but owned by a private corporation called the FEDERAL RESERVE, and therefore the "law" does not apply. I under my first ammendment rights write statements on every bill I use and have been doing so for a very long time.
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